E Update

EASTMINSTERPRES.ORG

VOLU M E 4 0 N U M BE R 5 | JA N UA RY 31, 2016

Dear Eastminster Family,

STAFF
DR. BRADLEY D. SMITH
Pastor
DR. MARK E. DURRETT
Associate Pastor
REV. LYNN A. GRANDSIRE
Associate Pastor
DR. JAMES I. ST. JOHN
Parish Associate
REV. CHRIS SCOTT
Parish Associate
MR. CROSKEYS ROYALL
Director of Childrens Ministries
MRS. FREDNA LEE
Director of Music Ministries

Do you see evidence that God is at work in

and through Eastminster?
Mindful that every person carries some
burden, do you experience the hope of Jesus
Christ through Eastminster?
Is Eastminster a community where you feel
you can develop friends in the faith?
Scott Vaughan, a respected communications expert
who works with churches across the country, says
people that are unchurched, de-churched, or searching are looking for a yes response to these three
questions. What do you say? I say its a yes to all three. Were not perfect,
but clearly the Holy Spirit is at work in our midst. And I thank all of you who
are opening your life to God, growing in grace and faith.
There is, however, one other absolute essential requirement to being a church
the unchurched, de-churched, and searching attend: an invitation. People
need someone they know looking them in the eye and saying, Hey, Im going
(fill in the blank here: to serve, to a small group, to a seminar, to work out, to
worship), and Id like to invite you to come with me.
The human spirit is wired to yearn for meaning, for hope, for joy, and for
connection. By definition, to be Christian is to connect with God in Jesus
Christ, and it is to connect with other people. Who is it the Holy Spirit is
nudging you to reach out to? Someone you know could have her or his life
changed forever because you simply extended an invitation. Think about it.
Pray about it. Then reach out, invite, encourage, and welcome others to Eastminster.
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another
has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8
See you, and perhaps a friend as well, Sunday,

MRS. ANITA POOLE

EDS Director
MR. WILLIAM L. COLLINS, JR.
Business Manager
MS. JULIE MCDANIEL
Member Involvement
Coordinator

Pledge Status Report - We Need Your Help!

(9 weeks out from Dedication Sunday for 2016)
218 Pledges Increased
176 Pledges With No Change
53 Pledges Decreased
78 New Pledges
For a total of 525 pledges totaling $2,769,089.00

103 Pledges were made for 2015, but not yet for 2016.

Recently at EPC High: School Boys Basketball

Teams, A Battle of Champions ...Worship Dis-

covery with our Second Grade Kids, By Committee,

a Lovely Reception for Betty Barton is Given...You
Can See Them Below Helping Out Til the End! A
Coffee Table Book is Signed By Many...A Departing
Crystal Vase Admired by Betty

JANUARY 27

Spaghetti with Meatballs

Steamed Broccoli
Fried Squash
Bread Sticks
Salad
Dessert
(No Separate Childrens Menu)

FEBRUARY 3

St. Louis Style Ribs

Dirty Rice
Baked Beans
Texas Garlic Toast
Salads
Dessert
Childrens Menu: Cheeseburger & Fries

FEBRUARY 10
Ash Wednesday
**NO CLASSES WILL MEET**
Omelets
Sausage and Bacon
Hashbrowns
Grits & Biscuits
Fresh Fruit
Dessert
Childrens Menu:
Pancakes, Sausage Links & Fresh Fruit

Legacies
& Gifts
Rev. Lynn Grandsire
(& Other Lay Leaders)
Room E-259

Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m.

January 27 March 9
(No class on Ash Wednesday, February 10th)

A Christian Look at End of

Life Planning - From Living
Wills to Financial Gifts as
Faith Testimony

Thank You,Eastminster Family

for the Lovely Reception!
Sincerely,
Betty Barton & Family

Memorial Gifts Supporting the

Eastminster Endowment:
In memory of Sande Jeter, given by Anne & Walter
Bristow.
Memorial Gifts Supporting the Missy Boyd EDS
Scholarship Fund:
In memory of Dorothy Teague, given by Austin,
Barbara, Mary & Scott Boyd.
Memorial Gifts Supporting the Music/Choir Fund:
In memory of Tom Wattenbarger, given by
Richard H. Demarest & Gene Mitchell.

SOX in a BOX is winding down this

week. EPC has only one more Sunday to
contribute, which is this Sunday,
January 31. Please bring in more white
tube socks for this helpful ministry as our nights
are getting colder...
Thanks to Kate Liggitt
and Liz Twitty and their
families for leading this
collection for
2015-2016.

Congregational Care & Concern

Births: Congratulations and love go out to
Sara & David Ellison on the birth of their son,
Hugh Bassford Ellison, on January 22, 2016. Big
brother is James David Ellison
Hospitals:
Peggy Spann - Providence NE
Linda Long - Providence

YOUTH SUNDAY IS MARCH 6TH...

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! We need
youth of all ages to sing in Choirs, etc.
MAKE SURE YOU COME AND
WORSHIP THAT SUNDAY. You will get
to hear our youth from the pulpit as they
give their statements of faith. It is always
an impressive group of young leaders.

Youth groups meet from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.

Middle schoolers meet in the Arts and
Crafts Room, and senior highs in the MultiPurpose Room, both in the Christian Life
Center. Dinner ($6) is part of the youth
program, and will be in Thompson Hall
from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Hope to see a lot of
youth this Sunday at 5!

SUNDAY NIGHT YOUTH GROUPS:

Deadline for UPDATE:

Send your information to share with the congregation to communications@eastminsterpres.org.
Please have your information in by February 7th
for the February 21st Update.

Eastminster Presbyterian Church

3200 Trenholm Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29204

Update for January 31, 2016

Nonprofit Org.
US POSTAGE
PAID
Columbia, SC
PERMIT No. 27